Hop-press.



No. 867,142. PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

0. 'KUENSTING.

HOP PRESS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1901.

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W w mu INVENTOR CHARLES KUENS'IiNG ATTORNEYS rut Nam": PETERS co., WASHINGTON, p. c.

PATENTBD SEPT. 24,1907.

(A G. KUENSTING.

HOP PRESS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1907.

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m; s Q Q 17? El 3 f u I q ,1 1. 2* '1 N N ,,!L -""j' 5 g INVENTOH CHARLES KUENSTINB ATTORNEYS 0. KUBNSTINGQ HOP PRESS.

APPLIOATION FILED APB-.25, 1907.

PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

Ham's-sum a I INVENTOI? BHARLE BKUENSTINB ATTORNEYS THE uonms PETERS c0, wasuma'ran D. c.

CHARLES KUE'NSTING, OF WOODBURN, OREGON.

HOP-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed April 25,1907. Serial No. 370,248.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES KUENSTING, a citizen 'of the United States, residing at Woodburn, in the county of Marion and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hop-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of a new portable press, designed especially for the-baling of hops, but applicable also to other uses.

Hop houses usually have an elevated door from which the hops are delivered directly into the press box, which is located on the ground outside the hop house, and it is desirable for this reason to have an elevated vertical press box to facilitate the charging of the hops into the open top end of the press box. Su'ch tall vertical hop press is also desirable in order that it may hold enough hops to make a bale at one filling and yet such tall vertical presses are very inconvenient to transport from one hop house to another.

My invention is designed to provide a hop press which shall secure the advantages named and yet be easily portable, conveniently loaded, of simple construction, without large metal castings, and'of a graduated power apportioned to the increased compression strain as the follower compresses the bale.

The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, which I will now proceed to describe with reference to the drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view from one side, with parts broken away and the near hind wheel removed. Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional elevation showing in dotted lines the elevated and laterally adjusted position of the follower while filling the press box. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view. Fig. 4 is a side view on a smaller scale, showing the position of the press box when folded for transportation and Fig. 5 is a sectional detail in perspective of the double volute spiral conical drum or winding jack.

Referring to Fig. l, B is the press box, A is the winding jack and O is the framework connecting the two. This framework at its forward end is supported upon wheels D D having an ordinary axle and king bolt. The. press box itself when in vertical position rests upon the ground, but has at some distance from its lower end short horizontal axle arms E provided with wheels E E. The radii of these wheels is approximately the distance from the axle arms E to the bottom or base end of the press,'so 'that when the press box is in vertical position it will rest' solidly on the ground, but this press box is hinged at its bottom edge at c, by a long pintle rod, to the rear end of the framework 0, so that if the press box be turned forwardly on its hinge c, the position of the axle arms E will cause the bottom end of the press box to rise and entirely leave the ground, as seen in Fig. 4. To

cause it to rise a maximum distance, so as to clear stones, stumps &c in transportation, the press box, see Fig. 1, has on its front side a detachable door or panel B which may be taken out, so as to allow the winding jack A to enter the interior of the press box when folded, as in Fig. 4. This not only allows the rear end of the press to rise a greater distance from the ground, but it lowers the center of gravity of the upper part of the press and holds it more firmly ing jack protruding into the same.

In securing the firmest support on the ground, I form the press box with inclined and divergent brace bars B B on each side which at their upper ends extend to the frame of the detachable panel B and at their lower ends pass outside of the corner bars B of the press box, so as to make a base which is much wider than the cross section of the box itself. This not only greatly stiffens and strengthens the press box, and gives a wide base, but the lower ends of the inclined braces B andthe corner bars B together form the two anchorage points for connecting the short rear axle arms E in the strongest and most convenient manner, leaving the sides of the press box unobstructed so that doors may be placed at these points.

The press box, which is made tall for the purpose already referred to, is entirely open'at its upper end and has at both sides of its lower end a pair of hinged and folding doors b b which close together in the middle and are secured by a latch b. These doors are opposite the baling chamber. This baling chamber is provided, see Fig. 2, with a stationary base J having at its edges wedge shaped fins j j against which the bale is compressed by a follower I whose edges are similarly provided with wedge shaped fins i i. This follower has a longitudinal steel cross bar H across its top, which extends through a vertical slot s at each end of the press box, see Figs. 1, and 2, and is drawn down by ropes and pulleys to compress the bale beneath the follower. For this purpose a hanger block h is connected to each end of the cross bar H outside the press box and is provided with one ormore pulleys p and a stationary block W, similarly equipped with pulleys p is fixed to the lower end of the framework. A rope r is then roved a suitable number of times through these two pulley blocks and is then passed under a pulley p at the bottom ofthe press to a position near its middle, see Fig. 3, and thence passes around a pulley p set ina horizontal plane and thence proceed to a volute spiral track face on the winding jack A. There is one set of these pulley blocks, with rope and winding face, for each side of the machine.

The winding jack, which is in the nature of a double conical drum, consists of a middle disk 90 Figs. 1 and 5, having two larger disks aa on, opposite sides of it to form a spool with a narrow peripheral groove in which is wound the operating rope y to which a horse is attached. On the sides of the disks a are built up the volute spiral track grooves for the winding ropes r '1'. These volute spiral track grooves are of largest diameter next to the disks a and gradually diminishes in diameter as they wind around the axis in a generally conical arrangement. The well known object of these volute spiral grooves is to give a constantly increased power as the bale becomes pressed, so that the increased resistance which the bale offers will be met and overcome by the increasing power of the conical Windlass, it being well known that the power increases with the increased leverage which the smaller diameter of the Windlass affords as the rope winds down upon the same.

In my construction and arrangement of winding jack, it will be seen that both the middle groove in which the operating rope band or chain is wound, and the spiral tracks for the follower rope are all inside the axial bearings of the jack. This is important in that the strain of the team on the operating rope and the strain of the ropes running from the spiral rope tracks to the press neutralize each other in relieving all strain on the axial bearings of the jack.

In constructing the winding jack the volute spiral rope track is built up in a peculiar way, as seen in Figs. 1 and 5. Fan-shaped or triangular pieces of wood a little thicker than the rope are cut of constantly decreasing size and secured to the sides of the disks a a with the grain of the wood running radially, so that the rope track will be formed by the end of the grain of the wood and will therefore not split off. These fan-shaped pieces have their outer edges reinforced by round metal plates m which are secured between the successive layers, so that a track groove (1 a a a will be formed of volute spiral shape to receive the winding rope. This method of constructing the winding jack permits it to be made by any carpenter and without any special castings. The winding jack is sustained upon a stout rigid axle turning in bearings in a braced frame.

To apply power for compressing the bale, a horse is attached to a rope y which is wound in the center groove 00 of the jack and extends from the bottom of the jack, Figs. 1 and 2, and as the horse is driven forward, the jack is turned in the direction of the arrow and the two ropes 1' 7", which bring the follower down, are wound upon the volute spiral track grooves a a a a on each side of the jack and the take-up of the rope at first is rapid because it winds on the larger diameter a, but as the follower moves down and the bale offers greater resistance, the ropes r continually pass to a portion of the track groove of lesser diameter which gives an increased leverage and power.

I will now describe the means for raising the follower after the bale is compressed and removed, reference being had to Figs. 1 and 2.

G Gr G is an upright frame composed of two side bars G G pivoted at their lower ends 'Lt to the lower ends of the press box and connected at their upper ends by a cross bar W, said upper ends extending a considerable distance above the top of the press box.

F is an elevated platform or supporting frame fixed in horizontal position at the level of the top of the press box and extending laterally to one side of the same and supported by inclined braces f f.

In the middle of the top bar G are arranged two pulleys 7c 7c and near the follower are other pulleys 7: Fig. 2, which two sets of pulleys are connected by a rope is roved around the upper and lower pulleys, thence extending to one side of the frame over pulley k and thence extending down to some easily accessible point of connection. By pulling on the lower end of this rope is it will be seen that the heavy follower is raised and as it rises it passes above the upper end of the press box in the frame G G and this frame is then bodily swung to one side on its lower pivots, as indicated in dotted lilies in Fig. 2, and the follower is there temporarily held by the supporting table F while the hops are being fed into the now open top of the press box. In order to swing the follower across to the dotted position, the upper part of the side bars (1 (i of the tilting frame are provided with downwardly projecting parallel prongs g and when the follower is raised its steel bar II passes up between these prongs and the side bars G so as to hold the followers against accidentally swinging out of position and to hold it true when adjusting it back again to position to reenter the press box. This tilting frame and mode of adjusting the follower savos much hand labor in raising the follower and also permits the follower to be conveniently swung out of the way of the material fed into the press and to be manipulated at this elevated position in a convenient and practical manner.

It will be seen that when the tilting frame is swung to one side as in dotted lines the follower is made to descend slightly and come to a rest; on. top of the laterally projecting platform F, which steadies it and prevents it from swinging about on its suspending rope from accidental contact of the charges of material and the jar of loading the press box.

When the follower reaches its lowest point in pressing a bale, I provide means for automatically stopping the winding jack and thus relieving the press of overstrain from the continued pulling of the team on the rope y. For this purpose, see Fig. l, a short latch c is pivoted to the framework and one end is allowed to extend under the cross bar H of the follower where it projects through the slot in the end of the press box. One end of this latch is hook-shaped and is adapted to receive and hold in vertical position the trigger c". This trigger is connected to a trip rope c that extends around a pulley or eye 0 and connects with a longitudinal lock bar O beneath the winding jack. This lock bar is pivoted at one end to swing horizontally and has near its middle a tooth c Fig. 1, that is adapted to be received into a locking recess t in the side of one of the disks a of the winding jack. The lock bar C is pulled in one direction by a spiral spring to throw the tooth c into the locking notch and is pulled in the other direction by the trip rope c. When the press box has been filled ready for pressing, the trigger c is inserted in the hooked end of latch c, as shown in dotted lilies in Fig. 1 This puts tension on trip rope c and pulls the lock lever G and tooth c away from the winding jack. When, however, the follower of the press has descended far enough to produ cc the requisite compression, the cross bar H of the follower strikes the adjacent end of latch 0 and lifts its hooked end from the trigger 0 The trigger then drops down, giving slack to the rope 0 which slack is instantly taken up by the spring 0 which pulls the bar and locking tooth 0 into engagement with the winding jack, thus stopping the transmission of the strain of the team to the follower and thereby avoiding overstrain. To steady the press when in vertical position guy ropes d d connect the jack frame to the top of the press.

The operation of my press is as follows. The press is transported in the position shown in Fig. 4 and after reaching the hop house is backed up to the same under the elevated door. The press box is then tilted into the vertical position, see in Fig. 1, and rests solidly and firmly with its broad base upon the ground. The follower is then hoisted by rope 70 until it rises above the press box and the tilting frame bearing the follower is moved to one side, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, which leaves the upper end of press box open to receive the hops. A piece of burlap is placed upon the bottom J of the baling chamber and the hops are now filled into the press box until it is full. A piece of burlap is then put on top of the hops. The follower is then swung back over the press box and the team being attached to rope y and started off, the winding jack is turned and winds up the ropes r r, bringing down the follower and compressing the hops in the lower part of the box opposite the doors b b. When the follower reaches the desired point its bar H trips the latch c and releasing the lock bar allows the jack A to be rigidly locked, so that no more power is transmitted to the follower. The press doors b b on both sides the baling chamber are now opened and the edges of the two pieces of burlap are sewed together and the bale removed.

On each end of the press box near the slot is arranged a vertical gate bar L connected by links M for a parallel motion. Thepurpose of this gate bar is to lie in front of the vertical slots s in the press box and close the same while the box is being filled with hops, so that the latter will not spill out. This gate bar is thrust to one side by the ends of the cross bar of the follower engaging the beveled upper ends of the gate bar when the follower is moved down to compress the bale.

In making use of my invention, I do not confine myself to the special construction of the double spiral drum shown, as this may be varied without departing from my invention, I may also provide additional rollers, pulleys or drums for guiding the ropes as they pass from the bottom of the press box to the winding drum so as to better hold said ropes out of the way of the doors of the press box.

1 claim p 1. A portable press, comprising a main frame having its forward end provided with supporting wheels, a rope winding device arranged on top of said forward end and a tilting press box having its base end hinged to the rear of the main frame and having supporting wheels with an axle connection fixed to the press box at a point above its lower end to permit the press box to stand upright'on the ground or be lifted therefrom when tilted forward for transportation.

2. A portable press, comprising a main frame having its forward end provided with supporting wheels, a rope winding device arranged on top of said forward end, a tilting press box having its base end hinged, to the rear of the main frame, said press box having inclined braces diverging outwardly at the bottom beyond the ends of the box, horizontal axle arms connected to both the press box and these inclined braces at points above the base end of the box and supporting wheels for these axle arms.

3. A portable press, comprising an upright press box with a follower having a cross bar extending through the ends of the box, a fixed pulley block at the bottom of the press on each side, a movable pulley block attached to each end of the cross bar of the follower, a rope for each side roving through the fixed and movable pulley blocks, pulleys under the box by which the ropes are carried toward the center, and a winding jack consisting of a double conical drum having a large middle peripheral groove for the operating rope and having on each side of the same a volute spiral rope track diminishing in diameter as it proceeds from the center of the jack, said two rope tracks having the follower-actuating ropes wound respectively upon the same.

4. A portable press, comprising a vertical box, a follower therein having a cross bar extending through the box, means for actuating the follower, a winding jack with a locking notch, a locking device with spring for forcing it into engagement with the winding jack, a trip rope and trigger for holding the lock disengaged and a latch bar arranged below the cross bar of the follower to be tripped thereby at the end of its compression movement to slacken the trip rope and lock the winding jack.

5. A press having a follower, a winding device for actuating the same, a trip device actuated by the last part of the movement of the follower, and a locking device for the winding device set into action by the trip device to relieve the press of over-strain.

6. A portable press consisting of a wheeled main frame, a winding jack on the front part of said frame and a hinged press box at the rear of said frame adapted to fold over and rest upon the winding jack.

7 A portable press, consisting of a wheeled main frame, a winding jack on the front part of said main frame and a hinged press box at the rear of said frame, said box having a removable door on the side next to the jack adapted to allow the winding jack to enter the press box when the latter is folded thereupon.

8. A vertical press having a baling chamber with doors at the lower end and an open upper end having a laterally projecting platform extending horizontally from said upper end, a follower with rope and pulleys for hoisting it and a tilting supporting frame pivoted at its lower end and arranged to deposit the follower on said platform When swung to one side.

9. A press, comprising a press box, a follower with ropes and pulleys for actuating the same, a winding jack for said ropes consisting of a double conical drum having in the middle between their larger diameters a peripheral groove to receive an operating rope and having on each side a rigidly attached volutc spiral rope track decreasing in diameter away from the middle of the jack, and axial bearings arranged outside said jack, both the operating rope and the ropes from the rope track being inside the axial bearings.

10. A vertical press having a vertical press box and follower with cross bar extending through the press box and a tilting follower support constructed as an upright frame extending a distance above the press box to enable the follower to clear it and be swung to one side, said tilting frame having at its end above the press box downwardly projecting prongs adapted to inclose the cross bar of the follower.

11. A vertical press, comprising a press box having ver-- CHARLES KUENSTING.

Witnesses:

JAS. J. HALL, 'ir-ros. BROWN. 

